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[Angle]

I've been having a hard time these last few days. I can't sleep well or do much of anything productive, because of these feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Does anyone have any advice?

Edit: Though now that I think about it, I'm less asking for advice here, and more just looking for someone to talk to.

[Mechatronic]

I'd ask whether, when you think back over the last few days, was there something that made you frustrated, angry or anxious?

[Angle]

Well, I had a DnD group on Friday, and though I like the idea of hanging out with people, in practice I find it rather exhausting and tiresome. I'd like to enjoy hanging out with people, but I just don't.

[TheProphet]

It sounds like your social interactions aren't satisfying you. You need to find other people to talk to.

[Spaghetti7]

Well, I had a DnD group on Friday, and though I like the idea of hanging out with people, in practice I find it rather exhausting and tiresome. I'd like to enjoy hanging out with people, but I just don't.

Ooh. Ooooh. I just jumped in here to have a look around, and bear in mind I know NOTHING about depression, I also get this sometimes.
The solution I've found is that those people just probably aren't the right ones to hang out with. I have a lot of friends who I find tiresome and nervewracking to spend a long period with but recently I've found a few I actually ENJOY to spend time with, and that was a really new thing for me. I still do spend time with the others, but only to be polite. You just have to find people who are REAL friends. Or at least that's what I got.

[Helgoland]

It'll probably just pass - most people get a bit depressed at times. No biggie.

If it doesn't pass, and I cannot stress this enough, go see a doctor. I'm bipolar, and if that girl from my semester hadn't told me to get help I would very probably not be here typing this, but being full-time wormfood. (Or fishfood, depending on the method - but don't even get into that mindset. It may be comforting, but it also lowers the threshold for doing stupid, very stupid things.)
On the choice of doctor: A psychiatrist may be preferrable to a psychologist, but that's not something you can state categorically. Just go to the closest doctor, and if it doesn't work out, find another one.

Once again, that's just if that depressed feeling persists. You'll propably be just fine.

[Shook]

I actually get feelings like this from time to time, mostly in the vein of thinking "what am i even doing with my life?" and "i don't feel like i'm accomplishing anything", which is rather disheartening to me, because my current state of life is more or less running face first towards my dreams. Fortunately, it has passed every time, either by itself or by means of talking to my mom. Talking to people about it, even though it can be difficult, could potentially help you feel better. Not just chatting with someone over the intertoobs, but face to face talking, although it can also help to write a gigantic ramblepost about the matter (something i've done many times, even though it's an extremely limited amount of people who read it).

Also, for what it's worth, i'd be happy to talk to you, even though i'm terrible at being a make-you-feel-good kind of guy.

[Shakerag]

Edit: Though now that I think about it, I'm less asking for advice here, and more just looking for someone to talk to.

Okay, so what're we talking about?

[Angle]

Yeah, I don't really know. I posted this late at night without really thinking it through, and don't quite know what to do with it now. I thank you all for the advice though, it's been very helpful.

[Shakerag]

Yeah, I don't really know. I posted this late at night without really thinking it through, and don't quite know what to do with it now. I thank you all for the advice though, it's been very helpful.

Well, if you come up with anything, you know where to find us.

[Unusedname]

Edit: Though now that I think about it, I'm less asking for advice here, and more just looking for someone to talk to.

Yeah, I don't really know. I posted this late at night without really thinking it through, and don't quite know what to do with it now. I thank you all for the advice though, it's been very helpful.

Hah I start with that feeling sometimes. Like I feel like shit but I don't know who to talk to.
And then when I imagine talking to them I don't really have anything to say.
Then I end up thinking that I know all these people but I have no one to talk to.
And the more friends I have the more alone i feel.
I then I can't really talk to my friends about this because it sounds like I'm blaming them for being bad friends.

Or some other depressing loop.

It gets pretty ridiculous sometimes. Like I imagine finally having this grand conversation with someone and they just get it And I get everything out of the conversation I was looking for and our friendship feels much stronger now.

Like can you imagine saying all this to an actual person? I'd sound like a loon. But I suppose I can post it.

Idk if you're feeling the same thing but if you are it is frustrating. And personally I don't fix it I just keep pushing it to the back of my mind. Though that's probably not good.

[Ozarck]

There is a major difference between 'getting depressed sometimes" and "suffering from depression." If you think it may be the second, consult a doctor. Take some time and check out these sites - the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Mental Health. They may be of tremendous help.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms

you mentioned not enjoying hanging out with people and finding it very draining. Introverts tend to get more tired from hanging out in groups, but depression causes the same thing, only typically worse. An introvert can certainly enjoy time with groups - it's just tiring. On the other hand, Depression makes all interests seem less interesting.

Depression also often has a physical element to it. For example, if the cemicals that operate between neurons are out of balance, this can cause both emotional problems (neurons in the brain would not be responding properly) and physical feelings of tiredness, heaviness, and lack of energy (for me, when I woke in the morning I felt heavy, and if I moved, I fet like my body was on fire a little, as well as geting a headache for a while). this is because neurons are all throughout your body as well as in the brain.

Of course, other things might cause depression - recent tragedy, long time stress, and such things as physical abuse, drug use, and the normal complex changes that a person in their teens undergoes.

Please do not dismiss this concern without thinking about these things seriously. I am glad you came to someone to talk. If this was all you needed, then Great! If you need more, please seek help. And keep us updated, eh?

[Lectorog]

There is a major difference between 'getting depressed sometimes" and "suffering from depression."

The latter is most accurately referred to as chronic depression or clinical depression. Everyone depressed is "suffering from depression" because depression is depression, regardless of what caused it.

[Sappho]

I've dealt with depression since I was so young that the doctors laughed at me and said I couldn't possibly be depressed (refusing me treatment and making things many times worse). I've tried many things to help. Sometimes I'm not able to do anything, but usually if I can find a little motivation, I can take that first step to doing something that will help, and that builds up momentum and things start to get better.

This article was the first step I took towards hacking my brain and actively making permanent changes in my life that make a real difference and keep me from sinking back into the really bad place. Also, it's funny, which helps on its own. After I read this, I proceeded to read everything that David Wong had written, and it's almost all incredibly helpful advice. Not sure if it's necessarily what you need for your situation, but it can't hurt to give it a read, with an open mind, and be prepared to reconsider some things. Worst case scenario, you'll at least get a few laughs.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15231_7-reasons-21st-century-making-you-miserable.html

This one is a good follow-up: http://www.cracked.com/article_17061_reminder-5-things-you-think-will-make-you-happy-but-wont.html

Also, a general tip that almost universally works is exercise. It's not easy to motivate yourself to get real exercise when you're depressed, but if you can manage to start, it almost ALWAYS helps, and once you start it is easy to keep going. Just do a few push-ups or jump rope for a minute, you'll be surprised how much it can help. Think of it as hacking your brain, bypassing the chemicals that try to program you into misery, or getting XP to level up your happiness, or fighting a forgotten beast that can only be defeated by willpower (definitely picture yourself as a hero fighting against forces too strong for anyone else to face). Whatever you gotta do to get yourself in that mindset. For me, it helps to watch kung fu movies. Especially Jet Li or Jackie Chan. Or even Fight Club. Then start playing this song by Citizens and dance around like an idiot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0De1C4gqhmE (in fact, get the whole album, and make turning it on and dancing around part of your daily routine)

Hope things get better for you. If you stay depressed for too long without some kind of treatment, it can become your default state and it can be incredibly difficult to change it. You get to a point where the familiar misery is preferable to the unknown of happiness, and you actively resist getting better out of an instinct to stick to what you know. Don't let that happen.

[Angle]

That sounds like good advice. I'm also considering trying out meditation, do any of you have any experience with that?